Glasgow’s native son Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868–1928) is being celebrated across the city in 2018 with a wide range of events marking his 150th birthday. Recognized as one of the most influential figures of the early 20th century and a leading force in the Scottish Arts and Crafts Movement and European Art Nouveau, Mackintosh excelled as an architect, designer, artist and watercolorist. During the Mackintosh 150 commemorations, visitors can explore his work and lasting influence at venues including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow Art Club, The Glasgow School of Art, Scotland Street School Museum, The Hill House in Helensburgh (National Trust for Scotland) and The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow. For a complete experience, stop for tea at Sauchiehall Street Tearooms or Mackintosh at the Willow.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is hosting a major retrospective titled Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Making the Glasgow Style, on view until Aug. 14. The show surveys Mackintosh’s career and his role in shaping the Glasgow Style, presenting nearly 250 works drawn from public and private collections. Visitors will see stained glass, ceramics, mosaics and metalwork alongside furniture, embroidery, graphic work, stenciling and architectural drawings, including several items shown publicly for the first time.
The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow is organizing a symposium dedicated to current conservation and reconstruction projects that focus on Mackintosh buildings and interiors. The program includes workshops, lectures, tours, exhibitions and outings that explore practical and scholarly approaches to preserving his legacy. Free guided tours of the Glasgow Art Club run on Tuesdays from early March through late May, and again from early October until mid-December. The club houses Mackintosh’s first major public commission, a stenciled scheme from 1893, in addition to other interior features designed by him.
A full calendar of Mackintosh 150 events is available on the official event listings, offering details about exhibitions, talks, tours and special programs across the city. Whether you are interested in architecture, decorative arts, or design history, the anniversary year provides a rich opportunity to experience Mackintosh’s contribution to Glasgow and to the wider world of art and design.